10+ of the best yule log recipes

With so much food at Christmas, a yule log can feel like an afterthought, but this wonderfully rich Christmas dessert is great for anyone who isn’t a fan of a Christmas pudding at the end of the big meal. And a favourite yule log recipe (or Buche de Noel as it is also called) is great to have when you have guests coming round - essentially being an indulgently festive chocolate cake.

You can find inventive yule logs at the supermarket right now but making your own is a fun activity in the run up to Christmas.

Yule log recipes are fairly easy to master and one of the great things about them is the decoration at the end. Keep it classic, a chocolate log with a frosting of ganache and use a fork to make the appearance of bark or go all out and create a showstopper.

We love this yule log stump cake – which is a chocolate cake frosted with salted caramel Swiss meringue (it is Christmas after all!) and then decorated with shards of chocolate to create the bark.

We’ve also given the traditional yule log a twist with our recipe for a mulled wine yule log. This dessert has all the warming flavours of the traditional Christmas drink.

And because the flavours of a Black Forest gateau now feel like a Christmas staple (chocolate, cherries and warming kirsch) we also have a Black Forest yule log too. If you love the woodland theme as part of your cake decorating then check out this Black Forest Christmas gateau.

For guests with a sweet tooth, but who don’t like as much icing, our candy cane roulade is not too far from a yule log and looks incredibly festive.

Our fun version of the traditional Yule log, this indulgent cake is sandwiched with chocolate and salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercreams.

Recipe: Yule stump

This yule log recipe is a twist on the traditional Christmas yule log, packed with warming spice flavours. Let your imagination run wild creating a winter woodland scene decorating this festive tree stump cake.

Recipe: Mulled Wine Yule Log

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a yule log recipe, and this one has a fruity, boozy hit of cherries and kirsch.

Recipe: Black Forest Yule Log

This showstopping Christmas dessert is sure to impress your guests this season.

Recipe: Candy cane roulade

This chocolate and hazelnut dessert is a classic holiday showstopper, and a great alternative to Christmas cake.

Recipe: Chocolate and hazelnut yule log

Treat party guests to this triple-chocolate classic.

Recipe: Triple chocolate bûche de Noël

Sure to be a hit with the almond lovers, they’ll certainly be coming back for more.

Recipe: Snowy yule log

For an out-of-the-box dessert option, this fluffy, maple-infused roulade is the way to go.

Recipe: Maple pecan meringue roulade

A rich chocolate treat that’s perfect for a party of 10.

Recipe: White chocolate and raspberry meringue roulade

It’s hard to resist such pillowy perfection! If you’re not a fan of peppermint, just leave it out.

Recipe: White chocolate and mint roulade

Use a good-quality cocoa powder for a really chocolaty flavour in this roulade recipe, and don’t worry about cracks – they give the roulade its distinctive appearance.

Recipe: Chocolate and blackberry meringue roulade